Hersheypark's Roller Soaker to be replaced with "sprayground"

Ah, you're just being lazy, Gonch. Go get back on your couch and click! ;-)

First off, Stew, no one was saying that Hershey Park was a crappy park, so there was really no need for all that. Quite the contrary actually...I commented how much I loved the park. But, I felt it was simply a confusing layout as a first-timer. Of course someone that has been going to Hershey for 35 years as their home park is not going to feel that way.

If someone stated that Cedar Point had so much concrete, I'd agree. But, that wouldn't stop it from being my favorite park, and I wouldn't take it as an attack on CP.

Anyway, back to ripping on Hershey's layout... ;-)

If someone asked how to get to Maverick from Raptor, I'd tell them to keep walking straight ahead until they got to the Coasters Diner, then take the left path of the split. Keep following that path to the back edge of the park until you ran into Maverick on the left.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/plan-a-visit/park-map

The layout is simple, with wide midways and excellent traffic flow. The main midway is actually like a 2-lane highway, with Sky Ride serving as the dashed line. That empties into wide midways where the trend continues, and you get off at your exits, which are the various rides and coasters.

Now, let's look at Hershey:

http://www.hersheypark.com/map/index.php

If someone asked how to get from Lightning Racer to Trailblazer or Great Bear, I wouldn't know what to say. "Get a map?"

There are many different routes you could take. This lends to a feeling of every guest/group being on their own route which contributes to a traffic flow problem. Hershey felt much more crowded than it actually was at times. People were standing around and going every which way, especially when you got to junctions like Music Box Way.

This is all observation from 1 day at Hershey though, so maybe traffic doesn't always flow like this, and I'm sure the park gets easier to navigate over time. But, in comparing CP's and HP's map, there's no denying exactly what RideMan said.

If someone asked me how to get from Lightning Racer to Great Bear, I'd tell them, "Follow the signs." It's not rocket science.

rollergator said:

I'll make a quick stab at what's wrong with HP's layout - simply "everything" to the left of Founder's Circle...

Not to mention the 'hike' up to Founder's Circle just after entering the gate. The new path to Comet Hollow along the creek helps eliminate that climb.

If someone asked me how to get from Lightning Racer to Great Bear, I'd give them directions to Storm Runner.

I appreciate Hersheypark's odd layout. More *charm* points ;)

Oh boy. We have a Hersheypark fanboy amongst us who doesn't understand the weight of an educated and well informed park enthusiast's opinion, who would rather call people fat and lazy then to back up his reasoning. Nothing new here. LOL

Oh boy, someone must have clearly missed the part where I used the word "fat."

I'm well aware of the high esteem enthusiasts hold for themselves, thanks, and the prestigious honor that goes with being one. The point is, just because an enthusiast chooses to bless us all with their brilliant insight about a particular subject, that doesn't make it the gospel. So you can spare me the well educated and informed opinion crap, sonny - the facts don't need reasoning to back them up.

Jeph said:

First off, Stew, no one was saying that Hershey Park was a crappy park, so there was really no need for all that.

Second off, Jeph, no one was saying that you were saying that Hershey Park is crappy. And yes, there was a need for what I said because it's the truth. The majority of the belly aching about the parks layout being horrible, is coming from the enthusiasts ... And in my well thought out, informed and educated, humble "fanboy" opinion, that is just totally ridiculous. If you love Burger King, and I hate it, does that mean it sucks ?!?! Does that make it a fact that it's terrible ??!?! Not quite. Same deal with this.

Superstew, you make it sound like you don't like Cedar Point but yet you've been posting on PointBuzz since 2000. I'm not sure why your bashing everyone here when you're an enthusiast yourself...

I'm going to have to disagree with Superstew, if on no other point than calling Hershey's layout brilliant. I like the park just fine, there are a couple/three rides there that I enjoy immensely, but I've always felt they fell victim to their own need to expand.
I never knew, and was surprised to learn when I visited last spring, that the original entrance to the park was back where ZooAmerica is. Im assuming when the "need" to transform the traditional park into a regional themer arose in the 70's the entrance was moved, the front of the park became the back of the park ( ala Dorney ), and the confusing expansion was on.
I imagine Hershey had a lovely traditional park to begin with, but lost most of those rides in the name of modernization. Then to accommodate and attract larger crowds they added a weird western section, then some water rides, then ( I'll be darned ) Midway America which celebrates the traditional park! My opinion of that gawdawful water park has already been echoed here. And the only place to go with any of it was left of Founder's Circle. Honestly, I've never understood it. I've been visiting the park off and on since the 80's and I remarked on that first visit that the park was a confused mess and it's gotten no better.
Oh wait, here's another point of disagreement. The food and the shows there weren't good either. (The Milkmen were ok. That's a show, not a food)
I dont mean to rant or hate on HP. Its a long drive for me, I willingly go every few years, and I've never asked for my money back. I thought Skyrush was one of the most thrilling rides I've ever taken. But to hold this place against Busch or Disney and call it superior is just plain ridiculous. You don't have to be a be an enthusiast, fit or fat, to know that.

MaverickOO

Who was I bashing ?? I made a simple observation. If people are that fragile and are offended so easily when someone else disagrees with them, then maybe they should keep quiet, not offer up their opinion and keep that can of worms closed. Perhaps another form of entertainment would be more fitting.

And for the record ... Yes, I am an enthusiast and love CP ! Not sure where you're getting this, I make it sound like I don't stuff.



Lol One thing that hasn't changed around here I see is ones ability to completely distort and twist around what someone else said ..

RCMAC

You clearly read into my comments what you wanted to obviously. I NEVER stated HP was superior to those other places, nor did I "hold" HP "against them." What I said was, is that if you are NOT one of those places, you're a distant second. So yes, while you don't need to be fit or fat to know that, you do need to be able to read and comprehend simple English.

Ridiculous you say ?? Trying to cram your opinion (generally speaking) down someones throat as a fact I'd say qualifies.

I have a buddy who races RC cars professionally. He has designed and invented some amazing technological products for RC cars and sells them online. I, on the other hand, played with an RC car when I was 6 years old, and maybe bought a few for my nephews for Christmas over the years.

My buddy's opinion and knowledge far outweigh anything I know or can say about RC cars. He is an enthusiast, and I have just dabbled in them a little bit.

We here at CoasterBuzz talk about coasters a lot, most of us every day. I'm not saying that I am better than anyone else in everything under the sun, but I do know more about amusement parks then a friend or co-worker. My friend or co-worker might know more about comic books, or football, or computer programming, or monster trucks, or whatever else than me. No big deal.

Sometimes different "so called" enthusiasts have differing opinions on some topics, and there is no need to be a jerk about it. If all you can do is tell people who have a differing opinion than you that they "ironically" are lazy and "out of shape"(fat) because they don't laughably think that Hersheypark has the best layout ever, better than "wannabe" theme parks, like Kings Island or Disney, for example (again, laughable), your opinion seems less interesting and less valid, not more.

Is it your observation that everyone who thinks that Hershypark's layout sucks are out of shape and sits on the couch at home watching TV? Laughable! You have no idea what anyone does with their life outside of logging onto CoasterBuzz to discuss their hobby. I am not offended so easily at your opinion; I am offended at how much of an butt you are being about it. It's easy to see that you are a troll.

We are a bunch of mature people who have mature conversations about amusement parks and roller coasters. Perhaps you would be better off posting on another coaster discussion board?

And just to clear things up, I love Hersheypark. It's a really great park. I do not like what they have done to the place over the last decade or so. They do not have good design in mind when placing the new rides into the park. Skyrush, was wedged into the park in such a way that they couldn't even afford the space to allow for a proper load and unload station. Also, it ruins the greatness of The Comet by hovering over it and dwarfing it, making Comet seem less exciting.

As said before by many others, The water park is just wedged into the park with no seeming rhyme or reason. To get to the water park from your car or your locker at the front of the park, where your swimsuit may be, is quite an inconvenient hike. You have to stand in line to get into the wave pool, which shows that they understood that the wave pool would not be large enough to accommodate everyone interested all at once. Roller Soaker was much to low-capacity for Hershey Park, but they built it anyways. They removed their popular rapids ride, a staple at any park, for no other reason than to add a wave pool and lazy river. I could go on and on.

They should have built a separate water park. That would have helped the ascetics of the park while adding a reason to stay overnight at their hotel and spend more money on a second park experience. Cha-ching!

I do love some layout aspects of Hersheypark though. I love how the Mad Mouse sits high on a hill, towering over everything else. I love the new secluded walkway to Skyrush. I love the hilly terrain that gives the park that personality you were talking about. However, the park is a cluttered mess, with rides on top of rides on top of rides.

Superstew said:
And sorry to break this to those in denial ... if your name isn't Hershey park and/or are not associated with them, Cedar Fair, Six Flags, Anheuser Busch or Disney, you're nothing but a distant second !

Oh, Superstew, I'd apologize but I just don't think that's a good sentence, and I bet I'm not the only one who misinterpreted. If you've been going to Hersheypark for over 35 years that would make you at least 36, right? If so, your writing should be better. I don't know why it's not, but don't you dare tell me I don't comprehend simple English.

I've been in bed with the high fever/ respiratory flu since Christmas day. My dinner was ruined, the movie was cancelled, two holiday parties at my house had to be postponed and people showed up anyway. But guess what finally came along to wreck my week? This nonsense outta you.

Good bye.

Superstew said:

I NEVER stated HP was superior to those other places, nor did I "hold" HP "against them."

but Superstew said previously:

if your name isn't Hershey park and/or are not associated with them, Cedar Fair, Six Flags, Anheuser Busch or Disney, you're nothing but a distant second !



Superstew said:

Ridiculous you say ?? Trying to cram your opinion (generally speaking) down someones throat as a fact I'd say qualifies.

but Superstew said previously:

Probably stepping on some toes with that one, but since it's true and since I consider myself an enthusiast as well, I figured it was my civic duty to speak up.



Superstew said:

...the enthusiasts are NOT the be all end all of the industry, and their (in most cases) insignificant opinions usually don't mean squat...

but Superstew again said previously:
Probably stepping on some toes with that one, but since it's true and since I consider myself an enthusiast as well, I figured it was my civic duty to speak up.

And "Civic Duty" has nothing to do with stating an opinion on amusement parks, just so you know. Some examples of civic duties are obeying the law, serving on a jury, paying taxes and voting, and not expressing your opinion that "Hersheypark... is simply awesome". You are hilarious.

That escalated quickly.

The main points of irony to me are that:

1. Coasterbuzz is one of the least 'enthusiast-y' sites around, often repeating the mantra of, "ethusiast opinion means dick."

2. The people partaking in the layout discussion are some of the least enthusiast-y non-enthusiasts on the site.

3. I have said for years, I don't consider myself a coaster enthusiast - especially compared to the average people who make up enthusiast groups. I just don't care nearly as much. It's an interest. I have lots of interests and if I had to use one of them to identify myself, coaster enthusiasm would be near the bottom of the list.

The accusations of enthusiast self-importance are so far off base on this one that I was literally at a loss for words. Hence the "wow" post.

And while:

Superstew said:

The point is, just because an enthusiast chooses to bless us all with their brilliant insight about a particular subject, that doesn't make it the gospel.

is certainly true. It's an incredibly misplaced comment and even if it weren't, disagreeing and pointing this out doesn't suddenly make the claims false any more than the original claim was true.

Seems to me the only typical enthusiast reaction here is the reaction of a complete fanboy when overhearing the grown ups discussing, quite reasonably even, the absurdly geeky topic of his favorite park's layout in an casually negative tone.

Or in other words, "Just because one enthusiast fanboy says the other nerds are wrong doesn't make it so."

Oh, thank God the police are finally here!
:-)

Jeff said:

That escalated quickly.

Lol Yeah, it seems I (we) have been down this road before.

needlessly untrimmed quote removed. -J

LostKause, that was most impressive !! I mean the way you used my own quotes against me and tried to make it look like I contradicted myself ... Close, but no cigar .. And that novel you wrote above is certainly something to behold and I admire the effort no matter how in vein it was. There's one small problem though ... You're WAY off base with the whole troll thing ! I've been on these boards and posting since their inception. I know all too well how things work around here, and I sure as hell don't need lectured from any johnny come latelies on how to discuss the industry or what makes this guy an expert in the field or what doesn't. Maybe if you had spent a little more time researching and doing your homework instead of concentrating so much on getting cute and being a pompous wise guy with your coaster geek speak - you would have known that and understood that I'm not here just to start crap. Oh and speaking of mature people that have mature discussions (laughable) .. You're the one on here calling people "jerks" and "butts" not me.

Now, you want to debate some Hershey Park, no problem ... Yes, it is my "observation" that people who think the layout sucks are also the same people who for the most part, ARE just too lazy or are too out of shape to negotiate it. I don't have to know them personally, how they live their lives or what they do outside of the Coasterbuzz world to form that conclusion either. It's ever present right here in these threads with all the moaning and groaning. That's my opinion, just like you have yours, and if someone doesn't like or is offended by it somehow, then that's just too bad - because it wasn't meant to be a put down or an insult. Besides, just like like you, the thin skinned people you have to walk on an egg shells around, will more than likely express their displeasure.

Is the park cluttered ?? Maybe to you it is. I happen to like rides towering over other rides. I like the creek running through the middle. I love all the walkways, stairways, inclines, hilly terrain and bridges. I love the over all size of the place and how they've grown into the space available. They've made the most of their room and it's been a marvel .... in my opinion of course.

The water park on the other hand ?? I agree with you on that. Not a fan of the location and would have much rather seen it as a separate attraction outside the park in like Soak City.